Inventor Dr. Victor Lawrence, whose discoveries led to worldwide access to the internet and HDTV, delivered the Commencement Address at the Westchester County Center
The Class of 2023 was celebrated during the 69th Annual Commencement at the Westchester County Center in White Plains, NY, on May 17, 2023. Inventor Victor Lawrence, Ph.D., whose discoveries led to worldwide access to the internet and HDTV, delivered the Commencement Address was awarded an honorary Doctor of Science degree.
Dr. Lawrence is a member of the National Inventors Hall of Fame, a former Vice President for Advanced Communications Technology at AT&T Bell Laboratories and Lucent Technologies, and the former Associate Dean and Charles Batchler Chair Professor of Engineering at Stevens Institute of Technology. He is now a Senior Research Scientist and Director of the Center for Intelligent Networked Systems at Stevens Dr. Lawrence holds 53 U.S. and international patents, is the co-author of five books and has published more than 100 papers. In addition to inventing technologies that have improved life around the globe, he is a tireless advocate for worldwide access to the internet, and committed to mentoring the next generation of inventors.
Other outstanding alumni and community members recognized during the Commencement ceremony include:
Sr. Jean Graffweg, O.P. ‘70 – Sr. Jean is the Migrant Head Start Director at House on the Hill in Goshen, NY, an early childhood and migrant seasonal Head Start center that serves the children of farmworkers in Orange County . She was awarded the Veritas Medal during Commencement. Throughout her 42 years of ministry, Sr. Jean has filled many roles at House on the Hill, serving as a kindergarten teacher, bus driver, and even a cook. The mission of House on the Hill is to provide comprehensive educational, health, social services, disability services, nutrition services, community partnerships, and family engagement to the children who are between two months and five years old.
P. Joseph Corless– Corless is a professional engineer with Corless & Associates, who has over 50 years of environmental and civil engineering activities, including construction management, general civil and municipal engineering. As a past chair of the Dominican University New York Board of Trustees, and a longtime trustee, Corless has volunteered to serve as Project Engineer to oversee the multiple facilities that the University has constructed during his time on the board. His expertise, hard work, and generous commitment to the institution have made the development of Dominican’s campus possible. Corless received an honorary Doctor of Science degree.
Daniel Colon, ’13 – Colon was awarded the Badami Outstanding Alumnus Award, a prestigious award presented to a young alumnus each year. Colon is a research and development specialist at Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. He overcame a difficult childhood and knew education was the pathway to a better life. Since graduating, Colon has returned to Dominican University on several occasions to talk to our biology majors about his professional and personal journey. He also started an intern program, has mentored many Dominican University students and supported the hiring of Dominican graduates for entry level positions in the vaccine industry.
